Before He Was Voldemort (A Tom Riddle Fanfiction)

Chapter 37: Restored Memory

May, 1944

Corinne was the type of person who had to witness things physically in order to believe them. But she was usually not very good at deciding when one was telling her the truth, for she didn't understand people due to her lack of social skills.

How was she supposed to know now if Tom was being sincere? After he lied to her about what he'd done to Abraxas, and the seemingly countless other lies he's most likely told? How was she to prevent herself from being deceived yet again?

I would never lie to you, Corinne, Tom had told her not long ago.

And Corinne had believed him. She was so utterly enchanted by Tom Riddle that she'd managed to convince herself briefly that he would never lie to her. That he loved her too much to be anything but truthful.

Once again, she was proven wrong.

"You don't believe me," Tom suddenly said, bringing Corinne's focus back to him. His temper had completely subsided. "You don't believe I will tell you the truth."

"I don't," Corinne agreed, swallowing hard. "But can you blame me?"

"Of course not," said Tom, surprising her. "You have every right to be angry with me."

Before Corinne could respond, she faltered, watching as Tom turned and strode over to a glass cabinet by the fireplace that contained his personal collection of potions. He swept his finger along the neat labels on the shelves until he stopped and plucked up a small vial of clear liquid.

"What is that?" Corinne asked as Tom unscrewed the cork from the vial with an audible pop.

"A way to ensure you that whatever I say will be truthful," said Tom, and before Corinne could object, he tilted his head back and downed the potion in one gulp. Then he handed her the empty bottle.

"Veritaserum," Corinne read the label, nearly laughing. "And how do I know you didn't drink plain water just now to fool me?"

Tom's lips quirked into a small smirk. "Your cleverness is underestimated," he said, amused. "I suppose there's only one way to test if the Veritaserum is legitimate?"

Corinne grew impatient. Tom was never this agreeable. She realized with irritation that he was stalling. "Alright. You said you would tell me everything, so start with this: Why did you lie to me?"

Tom's reply was prompt and simple. "To protect you."

"From what?" Corinne asked eagerly. "From whom?"

If Tom was in any way struggling to resist the effects of Veritaserum, it was not noticeable. He was atypically unperturbed. Surely Tom's aptitude in virtually everything didn't apply to fighting off the most powerful truth serum, did it?

Finally, Tom sighed, bringing his gaze away and staring into the emerald flames flickering in the fireplace. The firelight cast haunting shadows across his sculpted features.

"The life I live is ill-fitted for someone like you," Tom explained, fiddling with the ring on his finger. "The dealings I participate in, the people I associate with, what I believe in. While that life is suitable for me, it is not for you. Our fates are separate. While you, Corinne, epitomize what is innocent and pure in this world, my life which is viewed as a dark one cannot afford to taint who you are."

Corinne let this sink in, digesting his words with difficulty. "I don't understand. Are you saying...that we can't be together?"

Tom turned his head towards her. Something in his eyes made Corinne believe that there was much more he wanted to say, but he held back. "Yes. That is what I'm saying."